Holiday lets, Airbnb properties and short-term rentals experience rapid turnover and heavy use from guests who are not as careful with the property as they would be with their own home. Chips, scratches and surface damage accumulate quickly — and in a sector where reviews and photographs matter enormously, maintaining the condition of surfaces is critical to your rental income.
Why Holiday Lets Need Regular Surface Maintenance
Unlike long-term rentals where a property is lived in by a single household, holiday lets can see 30–50 different groups of guests per year. Each check-out and cleaning session reveals new wear, and the standard guests expect is significantly higher than for long-term rentals — guests compare holiday let properties against hotel standards, not private rental standards.
- Chipped kitchen worktops affect photography and first impressions
- Cracked bath enamel suggests poor maintenance and generates negative reviews
- Chipped tiles are a health and safety concern as well as an aesthetic problem
- Scratched floors look neglected in listing photographs
Common Holiday Let Surface Damage
- Worktop chips — from pans, wine bottles and heavy luggage placed on kitchen surfaces
- Bath chips — from toiletry bottles, razors and general bathroom use
- Tile chips — floor and wall tiles chipped from luggage wheels and dropped items
- Floor scratches — particularly LVT and hardwood floors in open-plan living areas
- UPVC damage — door and window frames knocked by suitcases or furniture
Repair Between Lets
Surface repair is typically completed in 2–4 hours, making it ideal for the turnaround window between guests. We can work around your changeover schedule to ensure the property is fully restored before the next guests arrive. Many holiday let owners schedule a maintenance repair visit every 3–6 months as part of their standard property upkeep.
Insurance Claims for Guest Damage
If surface damage is caused by guests, it may be claimable through your holiday let insurance or through the guest’s deposit. We can provide written estimates and reports to support insurance claims or deposit deductions through platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com.
Get a Free Quote for Your Holiday Let
Send photographs of the surface damage — we can assess multiple repairs across a property and provide a single combined quote for a maintenance visit.
